Computer‐Assisted Synthetic Planning: The End of the Beginning

Exactly half a century has passed since the launch of the first documented research project (1965 Dendral) on computer‐assisted organic synthesis. Many more programs were created in the 1970s and 1980s but the enthusiasm of these pioneering days had largely dissipated by the 2000s, and the challenge of teaching the computer how to plan organic syntheses earned itself the reputation of a “mission impossible”. This is quite curious given that, in the meantime, computers have “learned” many other skills that had been considered exclusive domains of human intellect and creativity—for example, machines can nowadays play chess better than human world champions and they can compose classical music pleasant to the human ear. Although there have been no similar feats in organic synthesis, this Review argues that to concede defeat would be premature. Indeed, bringing together the combination of modern computational power and algorithms from graph/network theory, chemical rules (with full stereo‐ and regiochemistry) coded in appropriate formats, and the elements of quantum mechanics, the machine can finally be “taught” how to plan syntheses of non‐trivial organic molecules in a matter of seconds to minutes. The Review begins with an overview of some basic theoretical concepts essential for the big‐data analysis of chemical syntheses. It progresses to the problem of optimizing pathways involving known reactions. It culminates with discussion of algorithms that allow for a completely de novo and fully automated design of syntheses leading to relatively complex targets, including those that have not been made before. Of course, there are still things to be improved, but computers are finally becoming relevant and helpful to the practice of organic‐synthetic planning. Paraphrasing Churchill's famous words after the Allies’ first major victory over the Axis forces in Africa, it is not the end, it is not even the beginning of the end, but it is the end of the beginning for the computer‐assisted synthesis planning. The machine is here to stay.     

A green and efficient access to awl nitriles via an electrochemicalanodic oxidation

The nitrile functionality is a key building block in synthetic chemistry, and has wide applications in pharmaceuticals. However, traditional methodologies for the synthesis of nitriles are limited to harsh reaction conditions. Herein, we report a new and efficient access to aryl nitriles by an electrochemical synthesis. Compared with the conventional synthetic methods, this electrochemical synthesis is more environmentally friendly and easier to handle.     

A green and efficient access to aryl nitriles via an electrochemical anodic oxidation

The nitrile functionality is a key building block in synthetic chemistry, and has wide applications in pharmaceuticals. However, traditional methodologies for the synthesis of nitriles are limited to harsh reaction conditions. Herein, we report a new and efficient access to aryl nitriles by an electrochemical synthesis. Compared with the conventional synthetic methods, this electrochemical synthesis is more environmentally friendly and easier to handle.     

Synthetic Studies Inspired by Vinigrol

Vinigrol, a diterpene natural product, has been a fascinating target for total synthesis for over two decades. This minireview describes recent synthetic studies that have ultimately allowed access to the coveted vinigrol scaffold. Barriault’s synthesis of the vinigrol core is described, in addition to the elegant strategies disclosed by Njar?arson and Hanna. The first total synthesis of vinigrol, reported by Baran in 2009, is also highlighted. This review showcases the fundamental role that natural products play in spawning innovations in synthetic chemistry.     

Chemical Protein Synthesis by Native Chemical Ligation and Variations Thereof

For a long time, the total synthesis of proteins was considered as a “mission impossible” because of the tedious and complex synthetic steps and demanding purification processes. However, with the development of modern synthetic methodologies, many protein syntheses have now been reported. More importantly, through chemical synthesis, desired modifications can be installed to target proteins precisely, which is a major advantage over traditional bio‐synthesis approaches. This review summarizes the techniques developed for protein assembly, including native chemical ligation, Se‐mediated ligation, and a range of other ligation methods. A few synthetic examples, whereby synthetic proteins with desired modifications have been utilized for related biological research, are also included. We believe that chemical synthesis can provide alternative pathways to solve problems that have hitherto proved insurmountable by traditional biological approaches.     

Total Synthesis of Echinoside A,a Representative Triterpene Glycoside of Sea Cucumbers

Echinoside A, a sulfonylated holostane tetrasaccharide with potent anticancer and antifungal activity, was synthesized in a longest linear sequence of 35 steps and 0.6 % overall yield. The synthetic approach is adaptable to the synthesis of congeners and analogues, as exemplified by the ready synthesis of ds‐echinoside A and echinoside B, and thus will facilitate in‐depth studies on the promising biological effects of echinoside A. Moreover, the present synthesis demonstrates the feasibility of synthetic access to the characteristic complex triterpene glycosides that occur ubiquitously in sea cucumbers.     

Total Synthesis of Echinoside A,a Representative Triterpene Glycoside of Sea Cucumbers

Echinoside A, a sulfonylated holostane tetrasaccharide with potent anticancer and antifungal activity, was synthesized in a longest linear sequence of 35 steps and 0.6 % overall yield. The synthetic approach is adaptable to the synthesis of congeners and analogues, as exemplified by the ready synthesis of ds-echinoside A and echinoside B, and thus will facilitate in-depth studies on the promising biological effects of echinoside A. Moreover, the present synthesis demonstrates the feasibility of synthetic access to the characteristic complex triterpene glycosides that occur ubiquitously in sea cucumbers.     

Rapid Generation of Molecular Complexity by Chemical Synthesis: Highly Efficient Total Synthesis of Hexacyclic Alkaloid (−)‐Chaetominine and Its Biosynthetic Implications

The efficiency becomes a key issue in today's natural product total synthesis. While biomimetic synthesis is one of the most elegant strategies to achieve synthetic efficiency and thus to approach the ideal synthesis, most biogenetic pathways are unknown or unconfirmed. In this account, we demonstrate, through the shortest and also the most efficient asymmetric total syntheses of the hexacyclic alkaloid (?)‐chaetominine to date, that on the basis of biogenetic thinking, one can develop quite efficient bio‐inspired total synthesis, which in turn serves to suggest and chemically validate plausible biosynthetic routes for the natural product. The synthetic strategy thus developed is also inspiring for the development of other synthetic methods and efficient total synthesis of other natural products.     

A chiron approach to aminocytitols by petasis-borono-mannich reaction: formal synthesis of (+)-conduramine e and (-)-conduramine e

A chiron approach to a stereoselective route for the synthesis of aminocytitols from carbohydrates is described. The formal synthesis of (+)-conduramine E and (-)-conduramine E was achieved by utilizing this strategy. The key features of the synthetic strategy include one-pot three-component Petasis-Borono-Mannich reaction to introduce the syn-β-amino alcohol functionality of conduramine E and ring-closing metathesis to construct its carbocyclic core. The present synthetic approach paves the way for stereoselective synthesis of several conduramines starting from carbohydrates.     

Dead Ends and Detours En Route to Total Syntheses of the 1990s A list of abbreviations can be found at the end of the article

From the very beginning organic chemistry and total synthesis have been intimately joined. In fact, one of the first things that freshmen in organic chemistry learn is how to join two molecules together to obtain a more complex one. Of course they still have a long way to go to become fully mature synthetic chemists, but they must have the primary instinct to build molecules, as synthesis is the essence of organic chemistry. With the different points of view that actually coexist in the chemical community about the maturity of the science (art, or both) of organic synthesis, it is clear that nowadays we know how to make almost all of the most complex molecules ever isolated. The primary question is how easy is it to accomplish? For the readers of papers describing the total synthesis of either simple or complex molecules, it appears that the routes followed are, most of the time, smooth and free of troubles. The synthetic scheme written on paper is, apparently, done in the laboratory with few, if any, modifications and these, essentially, seem to be based on finding the optimal experimental conditions to effect the desired reaction. Failures in the planned synthetic scheme to achieve the goal, detours imposed by unexpected reactivity, or the absence of reactivity are almost never discussed, since they may diminish the value of the work reported. This review attempts to look at total synthesis from a different side; it will focus on troubles found during the synthetic work that cause detours from the original synthetic plan, or on the dead ends that eventually may force redesign. From there, the evolution from the original route to the final successful one that achieves the synthetic target will be presented. The syntheses discussed in this paper have been selected because they contain explicit information about the failures of the original synthetic plan, together with the evolution of the final route to the target molecule. Therefore, they contain a lot of useful negative information that may otherwise be lost.     

固相同步多重肽合成

本文综述了近十年来在固相肽合成基础上发展的各种同步多重合成新技术。它们的应用可进一步提高肽合成的效率、降低成本,并将促进许多肽的结构-活性关系研究。因此,将对激素-受体间作用的机理研究、对分子免疫学的发展及研究新的肽类诊断试剂或疫苗均可创造较好的条件。     

Tandem Reduction-Aldol Reactions Induced by Stryker's Reagent

The incorporation of tandem reactions into a synthetic plan is an important strategy to achieve an efficient synthesis. Consecutive transformations of a substrate in a one-pot synthesis multiplies the complexity of the product while reducing the overall number of steps in the synthetic pathway.     

On resin synthesis of sulfated oligosaccharides

Sulfated glycans are involved in many biological processes, making well-defined sulfated oligosaccharides highly sought molecular probes. These compounds are a considerable synthetic challenge, with each oligosaccharide target requiring specific synthetic protocols and extensive purifications steps. Here, we describe a general on resin approach that simplifies the synthesis of sulfated glycans. The oligosaccharide backbone, obtained by Automated Glycan Assembly (AGA), is subjected to regioselective sulfation and hydrolysis of protecting groups. The protocol is compatible with several monosaccharides and allows for multi-sulfation of linear and branched glycans. Seven diverse, biologically relevant sulfated glycans were prepared in good to excellent overall yield.

Well-defined sulfated oligosaccharides are important synthetic targets. We present an on resin approach for the synthesis of sulfated glycans with a broad reaction scope that overcomes previous limitations associated with on resin synthesis.     

铈对悬浮培养南方红豆杉细胞可溶性蛋白和紫杉醇合成动态的影响

研究Ce4 对悬浮培养南方红豆杉细胞可溶性蛋白和紫杉醇合成的动态影响,Ce4＋对可溶性蛋白合成和细胞活力的影响存在“分区和分叉现象,低浓度Ce4 (0.010mmol.L^-1)可显著提高可溶性蛋白的合成强度和细胞活力,高浓度Ce4 (5.00mmol.L^-1)对细胞表现为强伤害作用,适宜浓度Ce4 (1.00mmol.L^-1)在短期内可大幅度提高紫杉醇的合成速度,达到最高积累。     

Synthetic Methodology Useful in the Preparation of Sensitive 1-Aminothioxanthones

The recent finding that synthetic aminoanthraquinones of structure la-b have good antitumor properties has stimulated much interest in the synthesis of new analogs having improved thera-peutic indices. The recent report by Archer3 and co-workers on the synthesis of several heterocyclic thio-analogs o f these anthra-quinones has prompted us to report our development of a synthetic approach to the hitherto unknown heterocyclic analog 2. The syn-the tic approach is expected to be useful for the preparation of othersensitive thioxanthones of this type.     

A Facile,Sequential Multicomponent Approach to N-Aminoamidinothioureas—Versatile Synthons to Bioactive Heterocycles

A sequential, three-component approach for the rapid and convenient one-pot synthesis of N-aminoamidinothioureas is reported. The improved synthetic strategy involves the selective blocking of amino functionality in aminoguanidine by Schiff base formation with carbonyl compounds to generate corresponding N-(alkylidene/arylidene)aminoguanidines and their subsequent in situ condensation with isothiocyanate. The structural motif incorporates three points for diversity multiplication, making it a suitable candidate for combinatorial synthesis. The generality of the improved procedure was established by synthesizing a series of diverse compounds through solution phase parallel synthesis by varying the carbonyl and isothiocyanate components. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by spectral methods. The developed synthetic procedure employs mild reaction conditions, and individual steps are carefully optimized for easy automation.     

现代有机合成的新概念及研究进展

概念是有机合成化学发展的基础之一,新概念的产生和发展可为有机合成开拓新的研究领域和发展方向。此文介绍现代有机合成中的一些新概念和新方法,结合具体的有机合成反应实例展示有机合成在这些概念的基础上取得的新成果和新进展,并综合归纳了现代有机合成的发展方向和应重视的研究领域。     

Total synthesis of narbonolide and biotransformation to pikromycin

An improved total synthesis of narbonolide and its biotransformation to pikromycin is reported. This total synthesis utilized an intramolecular Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi coupling that significantly improved macrocyclization yields (90-96%) and allowed for differentiation of the C3- and C5-oxidation states. A pikAI deletion mutant of Streptomyces venezuelae was used to biotransform synthetic narbonolide to pikromycin by glycosylation and oxidation in vivo. This integration of synthetic chemistry and engineered biotransformations holds great promise for the synthesis of novel macrolide analogues of biological interest.